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These guides can be used for students of the Prayer Journeys Guidebook. The Listening Guide is also available in PDF. Click here to download the Free Acrobat Reader.
The listening guides also are available on the diskette and at namb.net/prayer
Prayer Journeys SESSION ONE Listening Guide
I. Becoming More Faithful In Prayer
Focus Point: Ways that believers can break through prayerlessness to reclaim a personal passion to pray unceasingly.
A. Turning from our way to God’s way gives birth to prayer. What is written in John 14:6 and how does this apply to your life?
Would you say you are a follower of Jesus are you still in the process of accepting Him? If you are in the process what can we do to help you accept Christ?
How does John 15:4-9 apply to Christian life?
B. Balancing relationship and service revitalizes prayer. What is the difference is relationship and service?
What is written in 1 Samuel 15:22 and why is it important?"
List some activities you do that could be replacing or interfering with your relationship with Christ?
C. Bible Study increases a passion for prayer. What happened to Cleopas after studying Scripture with Jesus in Luke 24:32 and how can that happen today?
How many heroes in our culture teach the characteristics in Galatians 5:22-23 and which of them are needed in your life?
What kind of cultural pressure do you feel to approve of the characteristics listed in Galatians 5:19-21 and should believers conform to that pressure?
Why is it that one plus one equals two all over the world? How does this apply to Christianity?
D. Thanksgiving and praise create a desire to pray. How does Psalms 100:4 relate to personal prayer?
II. Response Time: Pause for a prayer time. Perhaps begin with a praise song. Perhaps break up into small groups to pray. Watch for any unbelievers who may be ready to accept Christ and be prepared to share with them. Be prepared for others to deal with sin and return to God. Direct the prayer to a plea for personal holiness and for the fruit of the Spirit to characterize all that we say and do. Pray for those who are struggling to accept Christ or return to Him.
The man who mobilizes the church to pray, will make the biggest contribution to world evangelism in history." Andrew Murray
Prayer Journeys SESSION TWO Listening Guides
I. Becoming More Faithful In Prayer part 2
Focus Point: Becoming faithful in biblical prayer requires commitment and discipline.
A. Fervent, righteous prayer brings answered prayer. What does James 4:2b-3 teach about answered prayer?
How can James 5:16 make a difference in how you pray?
"The praying that makes a prayerful ministry is not a little praying put in as we put flavor to give it a pleasant smack, but the praying must be in the body, and from the blood and bones." -E.M Bounds.
- Biblical prayer becomes contagious. What did the disciples ask Jesus in Luke 11:1 and are you willing to ask the same thing?
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What is meant by "A God shaped hole" in our hearts?
What is the difference in Christianity as seen in John 3:16 and religion?
How does Romans 1:20-25 apply to your prayer life?
How does John 14:27 present peace?
C. Hearing from God empowers prayer. Why is 1 John 4:1 important to effective prayer?
How does Matthew 6:5-14 affect how we pray?
What are some reasons that you do not pray enough?
What is the most important lesson you have learned from this session?
II. Response time: Pause for a prayer time to focus on the biblical lessons learned. Seek God for a renewed faithfulness in prayer. Thank God for telling us no when we ask for the wrong things. Pray for righteousness. Pray to be contagious in prayer.
"More believers on their knees praying will result in more Christians on their feet evangelizing."
Prayer Journeys SESSION THREE Listening Guide
I. Becoming like Jesus in Prayer
Focus Point: Learning how believers need to become more like Christ in prayer.
What is the difference in a shepherd and a cowboy?
A. Praying and Fasting. How is fasting presented in Luke 2:37, and Luke 4:2 and what does this say to you?
B. Praying evangelistically. What is important about Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18 and how do they apply to all believers?
- Praying passionately. In Luke 6:12 how long did Jesus spend in prayer?
Is it unrealistic for Christ to expect his followers to pray all night?
What can believers do to reclaim a passion for prayer?
D. Praying intentionally. What does Luke 10:1-2, 17-19 say about intentional prayer?
Intentional prayer seeks what God wants and then listens for His response.
If the request is wrong, God says, "No."
If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow."
If you are wrong, God says, "Grow."
But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right,
God says, "Go!"
E. Praying intimately. Why do we not pray more and how can we change that?
"The minister who does not earnestly pray over his work must surely be a vain and conceited man. He acts as if he thought himself sufficient of himself, and therefore needed not to appeal to God." --Spurgeon
F. Praying persistently. Who has the responsibility for prayer in Luke 11:9?
What does Luke 18:1-8 say to you about prayer?
G. Praying God-centered prayer. What are the two different kinds of prayer described in Luke 18 verses 9-13?
"Prayer and a holy life are one. They mutually act and react. Neither can survive alone. The absence of one is the absence of the other."
Praying thankfully. What do Luke 22:14-23 and 39-46 teach the believer about prayer, thankfulness, and temptation?
II. Response Time: Pause for a time of prayer. Ask two or three people to voice the prayers of the group. Maybe break up into groups of two to three to pray. Petition God to make us more like Christ in prayer. Direct them in each of the areas Christ prayed. Encourage each person to write down a prayer request that represents each of the ways Christ prayed.
Prayer Journeys SESSION FOUR Listening Guides
I. Becoming like Christ in Intercession
Focus Point: Learning how to pray for personal needs, for unbelievers and for believers.
Praying for personal needs. According to Luke 22:39-45 and John 17:5, is it biblical for believers to prayer for themselves?
Here are biblical examples of personal prayer needs:
- Pray in repentance and belief in Christ (Mark 1:15).
- Pray in confession of sin (1 John 1:9).
- Pray for our daily bread (Luke 11:3)
- Pray that we can forgive everyone (Luke 11:4a).
- Pray that we can will not be led into temptation (Luke 11:4b).
- Pray for God’s will and not our will to be done in our lives (Luke 22:42).
- Pray for the fruit of the Spirit to characterize all that we say and do. (Gal. 5:22-23).
What are three spiritual needs that you have?
Praying for unbelievers. How does Luke 23:33-34 and John 17:20 affect how we pray for unbelievers?
Here are biblical examples of what to pray for unbelievers:
- Pray for receptive and repentant hearts (Luke 8:5-12).
- Pray for their spiritual eyes and ears to be opened to the truth of Christ (2 Cor. 4:3-4; Matt. 13:15).
- Pray for them to have God’s attitude toward sin (John 16:8).
- Pray for the person to be released to believe (2 Cor 10:3-4; 2 Tim 2:25-26).
- Pray for a transforming life (Rom.12: 1-2).
- Pray for God to send people to witness to them (Matt. 9:35-38).
List three unbelievers you need to pray for.
Praying for believers. What did you learn from Luke 24:50-53, Luke 22:32, and John 17:9b?
Here are biblical examples of what to pray for believers:
- Christ to send believers into His Harvest fields (Matt. 9:38).
- Christ to keep Christians in His name and character (John 17:11).
- Christians to have Christ's joy made full in themselves (John 17:13).
- Christ to guard and protect believers from the evil one (John 17:15).
- Christ to sanctify (set apart) believers in the truth of God (John 17:17).
- Christians to be unified in one mission, purpose and spirit even as the father and Son are one (John 17:21-22).
- Christians to be where Christ is and join His work (John 17:24).
- Christians to be filled with spiritual wisdom, pleasing in all ways to Christ, strengthened spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally, and bearing fruit in every good work (Col. 1:10-11).
List three believers you can pray for.
What is the most important lesson you leaned from this session?
II. Response time: Pause for a brief prayer time. Ask for these things: Pray for the Holy Spirit to make us prayer warriors, to become like Christ in prayer, pray for someone who does not know Christ, pray for your best friend and pray for an area of spiritual need for yourself.
"Prayer will make a person cease from sin, or sin will entice a person to cease from prayer."
Prayer Journeys SESSION FIVE Listening Guide
I. Learning About Prayer Journeys
Focus Point: To understand how to cover the community in prayer through Prayer Journeys.
A. Definition: A Prayer Journey is an intentional coordinated effort to pray for and share Jesus with every person in a chosen geographical area or cultural community.
1. Adaptable. How can you adapt to prayer in your life?
2. Focused. When is the believer able to pray on-sight with insight?
B. Prayer Pilgrimages. How is a Prayer Pilgrimage different from a Prayer Journey?
II. Why Prayer Journeys are Needed
A. The needs of the lost. How are the needs of the lost addressed through Prayer Journeys?
1. What is the focus of 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and how should believers respond?
Entreaties, prayers and thanksgiving. What are some things you can be thankful for?
On behalf of all people. Who should believers be praying for and how does that change your prayerlife?
Those in authority. What has the Spirit said to you about praying for those in authority?
Quiet lives. What is the responsibility of believers in order to receive quiet times?
Good and acceptable to God. Prayer ______ ______ and brings responsiveness to the work of the ______ _______.
And come to the knowledge of the truth. Read John 14:6 and 8:32 again and write why the truth is so important.
B. The needs of the believer. Why does God await Prayer to act in a community?
What are some needs of the believer met by Prayer Journeys?
C. The need for specific prayer. How does Satan reduce effective prayer?
Specific prayer includes these eight areas:
- Praying for workers to enter the harvest (Matt. 9:38),
- Praying for God to make a way for us to share the gospel (Col. 4:3),
- Praying for others, for the power of the Spirit, and for God’s people (Eph 6:18),
- Praying for fearlessness and bravery to witness no matter where you are (Eph. 6:19),
- Praying for everyone with thankfulness (I Tim. 2:1),
- Praying for Kings and those in power to be saved (I Tim. 2:2-4),
- Praying in confession of sin, (I John 1:9),
- Praying for spiritual awakening (2 Chron. 7:14).
III. Response Time: Pause for a time of prayer. Perhaps sing a praise song. Divide into groups of three or four. Pause for an extended time of prayer for the church and the community around the church. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and draw people into seeking the truth. Allow each person to pray for another country the Lord bring to mind. Pray for the missionaries and believers there. Pray for the lost to meet Jesus. Encourage every person to begin a Prayer Journey.
"If you can’t sleep, don’t count the sheep, but talk to the shepherd instead!"
Prayer Journeys SESSION SIX Listening Guides
I. Prayer Journey Field Teams and Support Teams.
Focus Point: Learning about using field teams and Support teams to cover the community in prayer.
A. Field teams. Identify the job of the field teams.
How do the field teams journey through the community?
As E.M. Bounds wrote, "Our short prayers owe their point and efficiency to the long ones that have preceded them."
B. Support teams. Identify the job of the support teams.
Decide how long the teams will be out. How long can you go out to cover the community in prayer?
C. Practice field prayer. What are some of the prayers that are shared during a Prayer Journey?
Why is field prayer important?
Response time: Pause for a time of prayer. Let each person voice a sentence prayer. Ask for wisdom in praying for the community of the church. Pray for people to join field teams and support teams. Pray that every community will be covered with prayer.
"Pray as though everything depended on God; work as though everything depended on you."
Prayer Journeys SESSION SEVEN Listening Guide
I. Responding to Divine Encounters
Focus Point: learning how to respond to divine encounters the Spirit leads to the field teams.
A. Field Team Witnessing booklets. NAMB Eternal Life booklet is available in 17 languages. What is the advantage of being familiar with a witnessing booklet?
B. "On Mission to Share Jesus (OMTSJ)." What is "On Mission to Share Jesus (OMTSJ)?
C. Take a follow-up card to record encounters. Appendix f and the Prayer Journey diskette have a sample follow-up card. What is the advantage of a follow-up card?
II. Reporting What God Has Done
Why is the reporting time so important?
A. Lead in sharing. How was God’s power released through the on-sight prayer?
What impressions did they receive about the neighborhoods?
How many persons were led to become Christians?
What is the possible impact on the community and the church?
B. Important benefits. What are the benefits of Prayer Journey to your church?
"Pretense in prayer is talking to humans, rather than God."
III. Follow-through on contacts and converts
The follow-through for Prayer Journeys concludes with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.
A. Great Commission Prayer Plan. What is a GCPP?
B. Visitation. Why are follow-through visits so important with every new convert and everyone that gave the field team a prayer request?
C. Jesus Video distribution. Would it be a good plan to distribute Jesus videos in your community?
D. Discipleship materials. What materials would work best in your church?
IV. Plan more Prayer Journeys. How many Prayer Journeys would it take to cover your community with prayer?
What is the most important lesson you learned in this session?
V. Response Time: Pause briefly to discuss the evangelistic ministry that became evident. Many Prayer Journeyers are deeply affected by the homelessness, poverty, and violence that they see. Read Ephesians 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…." Close in prayer for the communities that were covered. Pray for the new converts, the contacts made and the follow-through time.
"Strength in prayer is grounded in humility."
Prayer Journeys SESSION EIGHT Listening Guide
Focus Point: Learning to create on overall Great Commission Prayer Plan in a church.
I. How to Begin a Great Commission Prayer Strategy in the Church
A. It begins with an individual. What is the importance of having a church prayer coordinator?
What is the Spirit saying to you about your role in the prayer ministry of the church?
B. It grows to include a core group. Identify the prayer core groups in your congregation.
C. It includes a Season of prayer. How can a season of prayer affect your church?
D. It expands throughout the church. List three places to expand prayer in your church?
Pastor Jim Cymbala records in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, how prayer became foundational to everything in the church. He wrote, "... the prayer meeting will become the barometer of the church. What happens [there] will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us…Prayer will be the engine that drives the church."
E. It targets every part of the community. What parts of the community need ministry from your church?
What are some evangelistic ministries that work in your community?
F. It includes Prayer Evangelism. Many believers are beginning to use the term prayer evangelism for "being on mission with Christ through prayer. It involves a life of prayer-saturated witness, where biblically-based prayer permeates the entire process of evangelism." Prayer must precede, undergird and follow up on evangelistic witness and events.
How does this definition affect how you pray?
What are some of the most important lessons you learned from this session?
II. Response Time: Pause for a time of prayer. Pray for an individual to serve as prayer coordinator. Pray for a prayer council to form or for the encouragement of the current prayer council. Pray for the core groups to awaken with a desire to reclaim a passion to pray unceasingly. Begin praying for neighbors, friends and whoever the Spirit brings to mind.
"The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel."
Prayer Journey SESSION NINE Listening Guides
Focus Point: Learning three Specific parts of a Great Commission Prayer Plan.
I. A Suggested Great Commission Prayer Plan
Why is the time after teaching the Guidebook a good time to start a church-wide prayer plan?
- Reclaim or renew a personal passion to pray unceasingly (1 Thess. 5:17).
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What does 1 Thess. 5:17 have to say to believers about prayer?
How has the Prayer Journeys Seminar helped you reclaim a personal passion to pray unceasingly?
What needs to be done to help others in the congregation with personal prayer?
2. Reclaim or renew the church as a house of prayer with a passion for the lost (Matt. 21:13 and Luke 19:10). What did Jesus call His Father’s house and how does that apply to your church?
How does that relate to Luke 19:10 and what do you need to do to be obedient to Christ’s instructions for His House?
Describe how Matt. 18:18-20 and Acts 2:42 can help the unity of the church.
On Mission as a Lighthouse of Prayer. How can you participate in Lighthouses of Prayer?
What are the three parts of a Lighthouse of Prayer?
Will you choose to be On Mission as a Lighthouse of Prayer in your home and office?
- Reclaim or renew a passion to intercede for the next Great Awakening (2 Chr. 7:14). What does the growing interest in prayer indicate?
How does 2 Chronicles 7:14 affect the way you pray?
What does Is. 6:1-13 have to say to the church?
"When we pray, we must be ready to take action."
II. Response Time: Pause for a time of prayer. Allow each participant to ask God to renew a personal passion for prayer, to make the church a house of prayer with a passion for the lost, and to send revival to North America. Remind each person that revival will generate prayer and passion.
"When God is about to pour out His unusual mercies on His people, He first of all sets them a-praying." Matthew Henry
Prayer Journeys SESSION TEN Listening Guide
Focus Point: learning several components to a Great commission Prayer Plan.
I. Suggested Components for a Great Commission Prayer Strategy.
A. The Strategy May Include Many Ways to Call People to Prayer. Circle the prayer approaches that could be helpful in your congregation. Prayer Triplets. Concerts of prayer. Prayer revivals or retreats. Soleman assemblies. Pastor/staff prayer networks. Houses of prayer. Outreach prayer surveys.
Why would these work better than others?
B. Organizing a Prayer Room.
- Coordinate prayer times to keep someone praying in the room as much as possible.
- Be sure that every time someone steps into the pulpit there is someone stepping into the prayer room.
- Include in the prayer room lists of specific prayer requests.
- Many congregations are finding enough interest for the prayer room to be filled periodically for 24 hours.
Where can your church put a prayer room?
C. Organizing work-place Lighthouses of Prayer or prayer groups.
- Begin by finding a prayer partner to met with you.
- Set a time that will not interfere with the work schedule. Many groups meet during
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Lunch. Some bring sack lunches, others bring potluck. Some periodically fast and pray. Others meet before work or after work.
- Set the schedule to maximize the time. Allow time for people to arrive and eat.
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Organize the prayer time around praying for believers, unbelievers and themselves.
- Focus on praying for the needs and people at the office.
- Instead of sharing prayer requests before praying let the requests be shared while praying. This helps focus the time on praying for the needs that are shared. It also reduces the details to what is required for specific, intentional prayer. It is often good to go around in a circle so each person that wants to pray a request has the opportunity.
What is a good time for your work place prayer groups?
D. National Volunteer Participants. There are many opportunities for people to volunteer to participate in citywide or regional Prayer Journeys.
Are you willing to go to a citywide or regional prayer journey?
The NAMB Volunteer Mobilization Team helps to coordinate stateside requests from the field for Prayer Journey teams with people willing to volunteer to help for NAMB-sponsored projects. Contact 1 800 HMB-VOLS (462-8657) visit namb.net/vols or email gdover@namb.net for a form to request a team or to volunteer.
To volunteer for an international prayer Journey contact the IMB at 1 888 422 6461, visit www.imb.org/be_involved.htm or write vimd@imb.org.
E. Provide Ongoing Training. What training is needed in your church?
- How to grow in Christ? How can you help your congregation grow in Christ?
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What keeps believers from growing in Christ?
- Train the church in personal evangelism. What personal evangelism training is best in your congregation?
Why is it so important to learn to share your faith in Christ?
II. Response Time: Pause for a prayer time to ask God to make your church a house of prayer with a passion for the lost. Pray for wisdom and commitment to begin or enhance prayer throughout the congregation. Pray for prayer groups to begin in homes and businesses all over your city.
"What God initiates, God completes."
Prayer Journeys SESSION ELEVEN Listening Guides
Focus Point: Learning fourteen idea starters for A Great Commission Prayer Strategy.
I. A Suggested Process for a Great Commission Prayer Strategy
A. Fourteen steps.
- Select a prayer coordinator for the church. Will you serve as a prayer coordinator and what would you do?
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- Select a prayer council. Will you help with a prayer council?
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- Ask the pastor to take the lead by preparing a sermon series on prayer. Have you shared a word of encouragement to your pastor and staff lately?
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- Encourage individual prayer through any of the resources available. Which resources do you think would help you?
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- Launch prayer groups through Sunday school, small groups and Discipleship Training. What classes are you involved in that need a prayer group?
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- Refocus the Wednesday night prayer meeting into a time to pray for believers, unbelievers and individual spiritual growth. Provide national and international prayer needs and opportunities through NAMB (1 800-554-PRAY) and IMB (1 800 395-PRAY) prayerlines. Should believers be faithful to a midweek prayer service?
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- Create praying affinity groups. What professional groups do you belong where you could begin a prayer group?
8. Develop prayer lists of lost people and prospects in the community. Think of the worst person in town, the most popular, or some other public figure and begin to pray for them. Write some names the Lord brings to mind.
9. Participate in North American and International Seasons of Prayer. How can you help promote prayer for North American and International missionaries?
10. Schedule a prayer time during the worship service. Occasionally pray in-groups, pray for missionaries, make prayer a vital part of the worship service. Would you support more prayer throughout the church and how can you help make it happen?
- Create a lighthouse of prayer in every community or every street. Why would these lighthouses have an impact on a community?
12. Include Prayer Journeys for as many groups as possible and as often as possible. When would be a good time for your next Prayer Journey?
- Plan a mission trip that includes a Prayer Journey. Where would the Lord send you to pray and share Jesus?
14. Work with the associational prayer coordinator. Will you pray for that person and send them a note of encouragement?
What happens when the means becomes an end in itself instead of the means to an end?
II. Response Time: Pray for a church prayer coordinator and an associational prayer coordinator. Pray for a core group of praying believers to lead the church in prayer. Consider specific ways to make your church a house of prayer with a passion for the lost.
When could you begin making some of these suggestions happen in the church?
Which ones would you do first?
"Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men and women."
Prayer Journeys SESSION TWELVE Listening Guides
I. Prayer Journeys Field Practice. Take this session to begin a Prayer Journey. Walk or drive around the church. Practice.
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